理解します（りかいします、rikaishimasu）
- to understand

The Japanese word 理解します (りかいします) means "to understand," "to comprehend," or "to grasp." It signifies the ability to know or grasp the meaning of something, or to have a clear understanding of a situation, concept, or information. The act of 理解します involves processing information and forming a mental picture or concept of it. It implies more than just knowing; it includes the ability to apply that knowledge.

⚫︎日本語を理解します。 Translation: I understand Japanese. ⚫︎先生の話をよく理解します。 Translation: I understand the teacher's explanation well. ⚫︎その問題の解決策を理解しますか？ Translation: Do you understand the solution to that problem?

⚫︎理解します is a versatile verb used in various contexts. ⚫︎It's used when you grasp the meaning of spoken or written language, an idea, a situation, or a problem. ⚫︎You can use it to express your own understanding or to check someone else's comprehension. ⚫︎It's appropriate in both formal and informal situations, though the level of politeness can be adjusted through other verb forms (like using polite form, 理解しますbecomes 理解します).

⚫︎理解します is written using the kanji 理解 combined with the verb suffix します. ⚫︎The verb stem is 理解 (りかい). ⚫︎The verb suffix します (shimasu) is the polite form of the verb "to do" and indicates that the action is performed. ⚫︎Other forms include: 理解しません (I don't understand), 理解しました (I understood/understood), 理解してください (Please understand). ⚫︎There are no other ways to write 理解します. ⚫︎The okurigana (送りがな - the hiragana following the kanji) is always します.

⚫︎分かります (わかります) - to understand, to know (a more general term). ⚫︎分かる (わかる) - the plain form of 分かります. ⚫︎把握します (はあくします) - to grasp, to comprehend (often used for specific situations or information). ⚫︎了解します (りょうかいします) - to understand, to acknowledge (often used for agreement or permission).

⚫︎分かりません (わかりません) - I don't understand. ⚫︎理解できません (りかいできません) - I can't understand. ⚫︎知らない (しらない) - I don't know.

この説明を理解しますか？ ・Translation: Do you understand this explanation? ・Explanation: This sentence directly asks if the listener has grasped the meaning of an explanation.

私は彼の言っていることを理解します。 ・Translation: I understand what he is saying. ・Explanation: This sentence expresses the speaker's ability to comprehend someone else's words.

⚫︎The word 理解 is a compound word formed from two kanji. ⚫︎理 (ri) means "reason," "logic," or "principle." ⚫︎解 (kai) means "to untie," "to understand," or "to solve." ⚫︎Therefore, 理解 literally means "to untie (the knot of) reason" or "to understand by reason."